He was tired and exhilarated all at the same time. It had been quite a night. His legs felt heavy-sex legs they had called them when he was in college.
He started a pot of coffee and went down the steps to the backdoor to grab the newspaper. The arrest was front-page news, with Mac and Lich pictured above the fold, side by side with a picture of the senator and Hisle. A smaller picture below the fold had Sally and Helen Anderson from their press conference. As he walked back up the steps, he scanned the stories, reading the facts that had already become intimately familiar. Inside the front page, the political wags were frothing at the mouth, discussing all of the possible political ramifications. It was speculated that Senator Johnson would need to resign in the very near future.
By the time Mac wandered back to the kitchen, the coffee was ready. He poured a cup and grabbed the sports page, wanting to see the Gopher hockey score. He had tickets for tonight’s tilt and wondered if Sally would want to go. He wouldn’t need to wait long to ask.
Sally was up and walking down the hall to the bathroom. He heard her laugh, probably at the toothbrush, and heard the water start running. A few minutes later she came walking into the kitchen, wearing his white dress shirt. She’d managed to fasten a button or two, and the shirt hung mid-thigh, revealing her thin, shapely legs.
“Good morning,” he said, handing her a cup of coffee. She leaned up and kissed him, then took the cup.
He handed her the front page, and she went over to the small kitchen table to sit down and read. “We both received front page treatment,” he said, pointing out their pictures. They spent a few quiet minutes reading the paper.
“So,” she said, looking up directly at him, “What are we doing here?”
“Drinking coffee, reading the paper,” he replied, momentarily ducking the question.
“You and me here, buster. Is this a one night gig?”
She was direct, and he rather liked it. It was not a one-nighter. Mac liked her, but he didn’t really know her yet. He wanted to change that. “Well, I thought we could go to breakfast,” he replied.
She smiled. “That’s a start.”
“I have tickets to the Gopher game tonight.”
“St. Cloud State?”
“Yup.”
“I’m game.”
“Well, why don’t we get dressed, I was thinking of the Cleveland Grille.”
“A big, greasy breakfast?”
“I need it, woman, because you wore me out. I haven’t checked the bedroom yet, but I think we embedded the headboard into the wall.”
She smiled, stood up and slowly walked over to him. She pulled the string on his robe, allowing it to fall open. She put her hands around him, burying her head in his chest. They silently held each other for a minute. “Last night felt good,” she said quietly.
“Yes, it did.”
She pulled back, looked up and kissed him, lightly at first, and then deeply. He undid the few buttons keeping her shirt closed, pushing it open to her shoulders. She pulled her arms back and let it fall to the floor. He admired her beauty. She had a wonderful body and looked incredibly sexy, her hair falling messily around her face. He pulled her close again, kissing her. He picked her up and carried her back to bed.
Two hours later, they were off for a late breakfast at the Cleveland Grille. Mac wanted a greasy breakfast burrito to get some fuel into his system. And he had another reason for hitting the Cleveland.
He saw Dot as he walked in, and he looked to his left. Lich was sitting back in the corner, his usual spot, reading the paper and drinking coffee. Sally looked at Mac with a sheepish smile, and he nodded his head to walk back. Lich looked up to see them coming, a big smile spreading across his face. “Well, what are you two doing here on this fine morning?”
“We couldn’t get in anyplace reputable, so I said we’ll go to the Cleveland and eat with Dick Lick.”
Lich cackled, “Fuck you,” and to Sally, “How are you, counselor?”
“Fine, thanks. Reading your press clippings?”
“That I am. I’m a regular crime-fighting hero. They’ll be putting the statue downtown in Rice Park any day now.” Lich grabbed the front page and looked at it, pointing at the picture of Mac and himself, “Of course, I’d be a hell of a lot happier if they’d just used my photo. My partner here is just bringing me down.”
It was Mac’s turn to cackle, “Yes, we all know how big and bald sells papers.”
“I’d imagine they’re selling tons this morning,” another voice piped in. It was Dot. “Good morning, detective, and I assume this is Ms. Kennedy?”
“And you must be Dot,” replied Sally.
Dot flashed her a smile. “What can I get you two?”
Sally took a quick look at the menu. “I’ll have a ham and cheese omelet and coffee.”
Dot looked at Mac, who had no need for a menu. “I assume you’ll have your usual?”
“Absolutely.”
“Coming right up.” With that Dot turned and went to hand in their order.
Lich didn’t waste any time. He seldom did. “I figured you would finally get together last night.”
“Why is it,” Sally asked curiously, “that Mac and I have become such a topic of gossip?”
Lich smiled. “Well, Ms. Kennedy, I can’t speak for what’s going on around your office, but us cops, we happen to like our boy here. We just want to see him happy. This morning he looks happy.”
Mac wasn’t going to argue the point. The world felt a little different today. Lich was right. Women were a mistake worth making. He planned on making more mistakes with Sally. But first, he wanted to eat.
Their breakfast came, and he and Sally dug in while Lich continued to sip his coffee, reading the paper. They had a good time, laughing, Lich telling old stories. He was funny and could spin a yarn. The last week had given Mac new-found respect for him. He’d worked the case hard and had been masterful in the interview with the senator. Lich was back to being a good cop, working the job, and Mac liked it.
They finished their breakfast, and Mac was waiting for Dot to return with his credit card, when his cellphone burped. He looked at the number. The Public Safety Building. “McRyan,” He said, his body going cold. He listened a moment, then said, “You’ve got to be kidding.” That caught Lich and Sally’s attention.
Sally asked, “What is it?”
Mac put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, “Mason Johnson’s dead.” Then into the phone, he said, “Where? How do we get there?” Mac gestured towards Lich, who handed him his notebook and pen. Mac jotted the directions. “Take us about an hour. Right. Thanks.”
“What the fuck?” Lich said.
“Hisle heads out to the senator’s cabin this morning, apparently to start working on the case. He shows up, looks in the back door and sees the senator hanging there. Suicide. Cabin’s out on Cedar Lake by Annandale.”
Sally put her hand up to her mouth. “I guess he really did it, didn’t he?”
Lich, regaining his composure, “I knew he did, but man I can’t believe this.”
“Believe it.” Mac replied. “I’m heading out there. You guys coming?” They both nodded.
It took them a little over an hour to get to the cabin. As they drove west, it was apparent the sun wouldn’t last long. Clouds were rolling in, and the radio talked of rain mixed with snow later. They stopped in Annandale to grab coffee and cups as they doubted there would be any at the scene. From their stop in town, it took five minutes to get to the cabin. A sheriff’s deputy was working the end of the road. Mac let the window down, and flashed his badge, “St. Paul detectives and Ramsey County district attorney.”
“They said you were coming.” The sheriff’s deputy took a quick look at the ID to confirm and waved them through. Mac noticed a news van pulling up behind him as he rolled through.
They took the winding road up to the cabin. It was probably five-hundred yards. “Pretty isolated,” Mac remarked.
They came to the cabin clearing and found three Chevy Tahoes with the Wright County insignia on them and an Annandale squad car. There were two other vehicles, one probably the senator’s and the other likely was Hisle’s. Mac parked the Explorer near a Tahoe, and they all climbed out. Mac saw Hisle sitting by himself on a picnic table and walked over to him. Lich and Sally followed.
It was rare you saw Lyman Hisle shocked. He saw Mac walk up, but a blank stare remained on his face. Mac put his hand on his shoulder, “You gonna be okay, Lyman?”
